Sunday, 4 March 2012

Renovation of the
Kruger Museum: week 1

This blog is the account of Francois v/d Walt of
Aphane WIEW Architects, as a member of the team completing renovations to the
Kruger Museum. Ditsong Museums of South Africa have appointed Aphane WIEW
Architects to specify work relating to the conservation of external finishes on
Kruger Museum. You are invited to participate in this interesting journey in
time.

Week one: The Renovations Begin.

The story begins way back with President Paul Kruger himself, or as Pretorians
affectionately would like to call him Oom Paul. What is considered The Kruger
Museum was actually the house Oom Paul and his family lived in during the last
year of the 19th century. It also comprises of two display halls
& President Kruger’s state railway coach.

Author and date of
drawing –

unknown

The house has been refurbished to look almost as it did during the time
Oom Paul lived there. At that time it was not an official residence but a
modest private home. The Kruger Museum was opened in 1934 & declared a
national monument in 1937.

The Kruger Museum’s history run’s parallel with that of Pretoria & Tshwane.

After the short history lesson we are back to the present time and the establishment
& handover of the site to the contractor.

Site establishment
started on the 16th of February 2012

The renovation period will last for approximately 10 weeks, where we
will update you on a weekly basis. We invite you to participate in this project
and share our affection & passion for Oom Paul & his house as we
restore it back to some of its original glory.

Throughout the renovation period we will address construction issues
like